Events

This site is currently getting a makeover but the information here is current. We apologize for the poor appearance but it is temporary.

EAST FLORIDA (Madison County, east and south)

June 18

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Technical Meeting (link), (rescheduled from March 24, information in link above to be updated soon), 9 am -12 pm, Florida Farm Bureau, 5700 S.W. 34th Street, Gainesville, FL 32608. The meeting is open to the public and will give an overview of the 2018 Farm Bill programs and conservation easements. NRCS will solicit recommendations for establishing technical guidelines, program criteria and priorities for conservation in Florida. Individuals who need additional information or require special accommodations or materials in an alternative format or language contact Nina Bhattacharyya, 352-338-9554.

Aquatic Weed Control Short Course (link), Fort Lauderdale Marriott Coral Springs Hotel, 11775 Heron Bay Boulevard, Coral Springs, FL 33076. Provided by UF/IFAS Extension. Join us for the largest and most inclusive training for Florida Pesticide Licensing and CEUs. Become a more qualified professional, engage with your industry, and network with your peers! The Short Course is designed to benefit both new and experienced applicators alike. See link above for details and registration. For more information contact Dr. Lyn Gettys, 954-577-6331, lgettys@ufl.edu

November 6

Florida Land Steward Tour at Property of Jake English, Pasco County, FL, 9 am to 2 pm, property of Jake English near Land O Lakes, FL. Join us to learn about longleaf pine forest management, enhancing wildlife habitat, tree planting, Best Management Practices for protecting water quality and wildlife, Tree Farm certification, preparing for the next hurricane, and the challenges of land management in the wildland-urban interface. This is also a great opportunity to network with other landowners and meet the forestry and natural resource professionals that can assist you. Details to be posted.

WEST FLORIDA (Jefferson County and west)

Rescheduled to
May 14, 2021

Florida Land Steward Tour at Jenkins Millview Trace, Escambia County, FL, 8:30 am to 2:00 pm CT, Jenkins Millview Trace, Pensacola, FL. Mr. Robert Jenkins, owner and manager of Jenkins Millview Trace, is the 2020 Land Steward of the Year. We are moving this tour to next year due to the current COVID-19 health crisis. Join us in 2021 for this tour to learn about longleaf pine forest restoration and management, enhancing wildlife habitat, tree planting, and the challenges of land management in the wildland-urban interface. This is also a great opportunity to network with other landowners and meet the forestry and natural resource professionals that can assist you. $15 includes lunch and materials. Updated flier and registration page will be posted here.

Agricultural Best Management Practices Summit - Virtual on Zoom (link), On Zoom every Tuesday in April, May, and June. Provided by the UF/IFAS Center for Land Use Efficiency. Join us for updates on agricultural BMP research and extension projects. Participants will also hear from growers and agency professionals and have time for discussion.See link above for details and to join.

Natural Areas Training Academy S-131 Firefighter Type 1 Training (link). This is a National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) training course designed for individuals with wildland fire experience who are currently qualified as a Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2), and who desire to be qualified as a Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1) or Incident Commander Type 5 (ICT5) in the National Interagency Incident Management System. Online component: complete 7.5 hours of work (pre-recorded lectures, readings, and quizzes) at your own pace anytime between June 1 and June 15, 2020.
Live virtual component: join us via Zoom for a live session (group exercises and discussions) on June 16, 2020. $35 fee. See link above for details and registration.

Timber Price Update

News Briefs

STAYING CONNECTED: WILDLIFE IN ACTION AT WETLAND PRESERVEThis week's feature comes from Ashley Pardee, daughter of Ben and Louann Williams, Florida Tree Farmers and 2019 Florida Land Stewards of the Year. Ashley put together a nice video featuring some of the wildlife they enjoy at their Wetland Preserve property in Putnam County. This video blends game camera footage with music and some informative text about the many services provided by working forests. The video also promotes certified forest products and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). Remember that all wood harvested on forests certified in the American Tree Farm System, like Wetland Preserve, are part of the SFI chain of custody. The products you buy with the SFI label are produced with material grown on certified Tree Farms. Look for the SFI label shown in the video. Note that the video also features the label of another forest certification program, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). See Ashley's video on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/LbFY8cdnB-w

JOIN UF/IFAS PANHANDLE OUTDOORS LIVE FOR FLORIDA INVASIVE SPECIES AWARENESS WEEK, MAY 18-22
Next week (May 18-22) is Florida Invasive Species Awareness Week and we will be broadcasting invasive topics and information on Facebook LIVE each day at https://www.facebook.com/PanhandleOutdoorsNews/ beginning at 9:00 AM CDT (10:00 AM EDT). Broadcast schedule:

Mon May 18 – The Opening Kick-Off; join UF/IFAS extension agents as we discuss, and answer questions, on the invasive issue in general, and in the panhandle. Will also be discussing some of the terminology.
Tue May 19 – Giant Salvinia; this is a problem plant in some of the ponds in the Florida panhandle. One we would like to eliminate. Learn more about the plant and how to manage.
Wed May 20 – Feral Hogs; these guys are a problem everywhere.
Thu May 21 – Regal Demoiselle; this is a new non-native fish in the Gulf. We hope to educate everyone what it looks like and help us report them for management.
Fri May 22 – The Wrap Up; we will discussing how you can help report and remove these, and other invasive species from your yards or community parks.

NATIONAL STAY-AT-HOME WEED WRANGLE CHALLENGE - CONTROL INVASIVE PLANTS AT YOUR HOME OR PROPERTYQuarantine means time at home and your Weed Wrangle® partners are getting out into our own yards!
We challenge you to choose that one invasive plant, in your own space that has been nagging at you. Plan and implement a mission to eradicate it in the next two weeks. If you need help on how to manage your Invasives-at-Home, we are here to help. Let's free our neighborhoods from invasive plants!
The Stay-at-Home Weed Wrangle® is a Nationwide event and anyone can join. Attached are two Jpeg logos for your use when inviting all to participate. Feel free to edit and post to your social media accounts. When you have completed the work, share a before and after, photograph to info@weedwrangle.org and they will post them on their Instagram and Facebook pages. Stay-at-Home and Weed Wrangle® to remove invasives and restore your habitat for native plants and wildlife. info@weedwrangle.org | weedwrangle.org

SIGNUP FOR CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM BY JUNE 1, 2020
The application deadline for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is June 1, 2020. Through CSP, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service helps agricultural producers and forest landowners earn payments for expanding conservation activities while maintaining agricultural production on their land. CSP also encourages adoption of new technologies and management techniques. While applications are accepted throughout the year, interested producers should submit applications to their local NRCS office by the deadline to ensure their applications are considered for 2020 funding. For additional information about CSP, contact your local USDA service center.

Ranchers in Southwest Florida are encouraged to apply for CSP so they can be paid to help the Florida panther. Apply by June 15. Contact District Conservationist Mitchell Aman at 863-674-5700 for more information.

CONSERVATIION ASSISTANCE FOR FLORIDA FARMERS AND RANCHERS IN 11 WEST FLORIDA COUNTIESUSDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications from agricultural producers until June 15, 2020 for a Regional Conservation Partnership Program project that improves climate resiliency. NRCS will provide financial and technical assistance to eligible farmers and landowners toward conservation practices that improve natural resources in 11 Florida counties through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Producers in the following counties are encouraged to apply: Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Wakulla, and Washington.
The Climate Resiliency for Alabama, Florida and Georgia project in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint and Ochlockonee River Basins is led by the Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District. The project area covers more than 15 million acres in eastern Alabama, western Georgia, and the Florida panhandle. For more information contact your local USDA service center

CONSERVATION ASSISTANCE FOR FOREST IMPROVEMENTS
Agricultural producers in Florida can apply for financial assistance until June 15 for a Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) project to improve forested lands from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
NRCS will provide financial and technical assistance to farmers, ranchers and landowners for conservation practices that improve forest ecosystems through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). For more information contact your local USDA service center. Contact Chakesha Harvey,
352-338-3425

ANNOUNCING STATE ACRES FOR WILDLIFE ENHANCEMNT (SAFE) INITIATIVE THROUGH USDA FARM SERVICE AGENCY'S CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM (CRP)
State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement allows producers to install practices that benefit high priority State wildlife conservation objectives by using targeted restoration of vital habitat. This cooperative conservation effort is based on locally developed conservation proposals that address highest priority wildlife objectives. SAFE proposals may be developed and put forth by a Federal, State, or local agency, or by a private organization. Ideally, all partners will develop proposals under a cooperative and
collaborative agreement. For more details see this USDA fact sheet about the SAFE initiative. Submit proposals by June 19, 2020. Please direct questions to Amy Roller, Agriculture Program Specialist, Farm Service Agency, amy.roller@usda.gov, 352-379-4520.

TAX TIPS FOR FOREST LANDOWNERS FOR THE 2019 TAX YEARWe have an additional three months to file taxes amid the coronavirus pandemic. The tax filing deadline is July 15 . The Federal income tax laws contain forestry-specific provisions that are important for those managing and conserving timber. This publication provides forest owners, foresters, loggers, and timber businesses a guide to the applicable Federal income tax laws, including the latest tax law changes, for filing 2019 tax returns. The information is not intended to render legal or accounting advice and is current as of September 30, 2019. Access the 2019 timber tax tips and more related information at https://www.timbertax.org/

CAMP KIDS IN THE WOODS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA'S AUSTIN CARY FOREST
Is your 10-14 year old child looking for fun adventure this summer? Consider Camp Kids in the Woods! Campers will conduct various field explorations led by local scientists from forestry, wildlife, and water resources. Highlights include activities in fishing, wildlife handling, tree identification, fire ecology, exploring local ecosystems, a trip to a spring, camping out one night at the Austin Cary Forest, building wildlife nesting boxes, and participating in games and scavenger hunts. After a week of fun in the forest, campers gain a better understanding and deeper appreciation of their natural world and what is required to be a good steward of the environment. Camp Kids in the Woods summer program is a collaborative effort between the University of Florida’s School of Forest Resources and Conservation and the USDA Forest Service.

Dates: Session 1: June 1-5; Session 2: June 8-12; Session 3: June 22-26 Ages: 10-14 year olds Hours: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Free extended hours available to help fit your schedule. Location: Austin Cary Forest, 10625 NE Waldo Rd, Gainesville, FL 32609. Shuttle service that picks up and drops off at Westside Park available for a small fee. Cost: $275/Session. If you sign up for two sessions, we offer a 10% discount. We also have partial scholarships available, please contact Molly Disabb for more information. For more information visit: www.campkidsinthewoods.organd to register visit: http://reg.conferences.dce.ufl.edu/Basic/1400075863To contact the Camp Director Molly Disabb, email kidsinthewoods@ifas.ufl.edu or call 352-378-2451. ​
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PRESCRIBED BURN ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FROM ATTACK-ONE FIRE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, TALL TIMBERS RESEARCH STATION, AND ALACHUA CONSERVATION TRUST
These organizations are available to meet onsite with landowners to discuss their goals and assist with prescribed burn prescription and implementation.

Attack-One Fire Management Services is grant-funded to assist landowners with current NRCS contracts with prescribed fire planning and implementation throughout Florida and Georgia. We can also assist landowners who have former NRCS contracts with prescribed fire consultation, planning and implementation with active Gopher Tortoise habitat present. For more information email Kevin Carter, kevin@attack-one.com or John McGuire, jmcguire@attack-one.com or call (850) 926-6534

Tall Timbers Research Station is now funded by a Longleaf Legacy Landscape project to provide fire consultation, planning, and implementation to private landowners in the Florida Panhandle from Pensacola to Lake City and in west Georgia as far north as the Chattahoochee Fall Line (Columbus, GA). Contact Jeremiah Cates, jcates@talltimbers.org, (850) 381-8707

$380 MILLION IN BLOCK GRANTS FOR TIMBER RECOVERY APPROVED
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has allocated $380.7 million in federal block grant funding for Florida farmers devastated by Hurricane Michael, including direct relief for timber producers. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will administer the USDA block grants alongside the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

The funds will compensate timber producers for lost value of their crops damaged by Hurricane Michael, helping them clear downed trees and replant. About $10 million of the funding will also help agricultural producers repair and replace irrigation infrastructure damage from Hurricane Michael. The application process for timber producers to receive the grant funding will be finalized soon. More on this from FDACS

SOMETHING BUGGING YOUR TREES? - CHECK OUT THE FOREST HEALTH DIAGNOSTICS FORUM
Hosted by a group of forest and tree health specialists with Southeastern universities and agencies, we are here to help identify pests and diseases in your forest or your backyard, and to recommend a solution, if appropriate. Join the group and report your tree health issue!

GOT AN INVASIVE SPECIES PROBLEM?Go to floridainvasives.org for information, assistance and partnership opportunities.

FAMILY FORESTS BOOK AVAILABLE AT THE UF/IFAS BOOKSTORE
Get your copy of Family Forests – Portraits of Private Land Stewardship in Florida by Chris Demers, UF/IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation. This full-color publication puts a face on private forest stewardship in our great state, and provides ample references and resources that can assist with land management efforts.

LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON A PARTICULAR TOPIC?Check the vast array of extension publications available through UF/IFAS on the EDIS publication site: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ Wow, there’s a publication about that?

NEED A LOAN TO FUND CONSERVATION PROJECTS? CHECK OUT THE USDA FARM SERVICE AGENCY'S GUARANTEED CONSERVATION LOAN PROGRAMThe USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) guarantees loans to promote conservation practices on farms and ranches that help protect natural resources.
The goal of FSA’s Conservation Loan (CL) program is to provide access to credit for farmers who need and want to implement conservation measures on their land, but do not have the “up front” funds available to implement these practices. For more information see this Conservation Loan Program Fact Sheet. Also see this table summarizing FSA farm loan opportunities.

The Conservation Contract Program is a program for eligible landowners that protects important natural resources and other sensitive areas while providing a debt management tool.
A conservation contract is available to people with Farm Service Agency (FSA) direct loans secured by real estate. These individuals may qualify for a reduction of their FSA indebtedness in exchange for a conservation contract with a term of 50, 30 or 10 years. The conservation contract is a voluntary legal agreement that restricts the type and amount of development that may take place on portions of the landowner’s property. Contracts may be established on marginal cropland and other environmentally sensitive lands for conservation, recreation and wildlife purposes. For more information see this Conservation Contract Program Fact Sheet.

The FSA provides several types of farm loans. For more information on these opportunities, see the Florida FSA Website or contact your local FSA office to speak with a local representative.